To inspire creativity in your team, give them the freedom to contribute to the process and the confidence that they can work through challenges, says Ashley Wheater, artistic director of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. For him, that starts with a trusting and open culture. He explains how he nurtures a safe environment to bring out the best in the dance company.

Q: What’s your approach to boost creativity for the company?

A: What we have is an environment that is really conducive to a kind of freedom of expression. That comes from how we behave as an organization, how we teach the dance company daily and how we built a culture here that is very open. There is no fear, which is really important, and therefore you allow the dancers, choreographer and staff to come in and feel that security of creativity.

Too often people are afraid to say, “I’m not sure about that.” You should always give people the listening time. Sometimes we don’t, and we think that we know everything, and that’s just not the case. Then they say nothing, and they’re not happy with the end result. A dancer does a costume fitting and doesn’t say anything about it being uncomfortable, rather than, "This is what I need." It is really about constructive, respectful dialogue.

Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune / 2016

Wheater works with dancers.

Wheater works with dancers.

(Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune / 2016)

Q: How do you set up that environment?

A: If someone is creating a work here, I’m very involved with it, and I have an eye that knows how to help someone that may be struggling. You have to want to be a really good listener and see people maybe having a harder time and give them tools to help them get ahead.

It is constant dialogue, like, “You seem upset. What is going on?” You try to help them refocus and get back into the studio to be creative with their partner. In the ballet world, “shut up and learn the steps,” I think is an archaic sentence. We want our artists to contribute to the creative process.

Q: How do you hire for creativity?

A: Talent, ability and technique are very important. But for me the person is interesting. They have their own character, their own disposition, and you can see when people come to audition for the company whether they’re going to fit into the big framework.

It’s also looking at really young talent and seeing where that talent will go. It’s not always the perfectly behaved person that’s the winner. There are lots of people in the company that have a naughty side to them, but it’s character.

Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune / 2016

Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune / 2016

Q: Where do you see that?

A: There is a certain body language, and they have it at a very young age. Many things traumatize us and affect our behavior, and some retreat into themselves, and some are extroverts. The best-case scenario is a person is allowed to grow up to feel confident.

Q: The Joffrey is known for breaking traditions of classic works. How have newer technologies played a role in that?

A: We used a lot of projections of the sets and the visual story in “The Nutcracker.” We move from scene to scene, and lighting changes as we move, and we’re never for a moment sitting in the dark and waiting for the next scene.

Technology has allowed us to rethink the pacing of a show and how we are able to show what’s happening on the inside of someone’s mind by projecting from their thought process. It’s allowed us to continue the narrative in an organic way.